Relativistic Mean-Field Theory Equation of State of Neutron Star Matter and a Maxwellian Phase Transition to Strange Quark Matter

Abstract

The equation of state of neutron star matter is examined in terms of the relativistic mean-field theory, including a scalar-isovector $\delta$-meson effective field. The constants of the theory are determined numerically so that the empirically known characteristics of symmetric nuclear matter are reproduced at the saturation density. The thermodynamic characteristics of both asymmetric nucleonic matter and $\beta$-equilibrium hadron-electron $npe$-plasmas are studied. Assuming that the transition to strange quark matter is an ordinary first-order phase transition described by Maxwell's rule, a detailed study is made of the variations in the parameters of the phase transition owing to the presence of a $\delta$-meson field. The quark phase is described using an improved version of the bag model, in which interactions between quarks are accounted for in a one-gluon exchange approximation. The characteristics of the phase transition are determined for various values of the bag parameter within the range $B\in [60,120]$ $MeV/f{m}^3$ and it is shown that including a $\delta$-meson field leads to a reduction in the phase transition pressure $P_0$ and in the concentrations $n_N$ and $n_Q$ at the phase transition point.

17 pages, 8 figures

References in corpus (3)

• Charge Screening at First Order Phase Transitions and Hadron - Quark Mixed Phase
• Relativistic effects in the search for high density symmetry energy
• Stopping and Isospin Equilibration in Heavy Ion Collisions

Cited by in corpus (6)

• Hadron-quark phase transition in the SU(3) local Nambu-Jona-Lasinio (NJL) model with vector interaction
• Influence of scalar-isovector delta-meson field on quark phase structure in neutron stars
• Recent progresses in strange quark stars
• Deconfinement Phase Transition in Neutron Stars and δ-Meson Field
• Applications of the Octet Baryon Quark-Meson Coupling Model to Hybrid Stars
• Energy Release Associated with Quark Phase Transition in Neutron Stars: Comparative Analysis of Maxwell and Glendenning Scenarios